Ora Duesterhoft

Ora Dean Duesterhoft passed away on January 8, 2023. Services for Ora Dean will be held at the First Assembly of God in Caldwell, on Friday January 13, 2023, at 10am with Pastor Jacob Roach officiating. A visitation will be held on Thursday January 12, 2023, from 6pm – 8pm, at Strickland Funeral Home in Caldwell. The burial will be at the Friedens Cemetery in Washington County, Texas.

Ora Dean Duesterhoft was born on June 26, 1938, to Ben Meyer and Elsie Schultz in Washington County.  She was raised on a farm and did all the chores that one would, including picking cotton. She attended the Greenvine Luthern church and was baptized on September 24, 1938 and confirmed on May 13, 1951.  She was the FFA sweetheart in Burton High School in 1956. She played basketball earned letterman jackets and was nicknamed “little Meyer” for being the shortest player on the team.  She loved doing it all, and even took art lessons in Brenham for a period of time.

Ora Dean met Otto Duesterhoft Jr. and after 4 years of dating, they were married on August 26, 1956, together they raised 5 children. Ora Dean was a hard worker, she worked in the restaurant business for over 40 years in Burleson County, Texas. Owning and operating a restaurant was her dream. After she retired, she enjoyed traveling with her children.

Ora Dean enjoyed cooking, gardening, mowing, dancing, and riding her mule. She also enjoyed going to the deer lease, sewing, gambling, playing dominos, drinking beer, and most of all spending time with her family and friends. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Ora dean is survived by her sons Alan Duesterhoft and wife Ilesa, Doug Duesterhoft and wife Karen, and Otto Duesterhoft and wife Dora; her daughters Debbie Bartek and husband Carl, and Sandra Dean Maldonado and husband Stephen; her brother Ben Meyer and wife Delores.

Surviving grandchildren are Tiffany Brinkmeyer, Alyssa Conroy, Laurie Sleeth and husband Charles, Lewis Duesterhoft and wife Kyleene, Doug Duesterhoft Jr. and wife Nikki, Travis Duesterhoft and wife Errica, Brandy Garcia and husband Mateo, C.J. Bartek, Stuart Bartek and wife Renata, Stephen Maldonado Jr. and wife Kristen, Savanah Sanchez and husband Robert, Sebastian Dean Maldonado, Curtis Anderson, Katelyn Duesterhoft, Pete Garcia and wife Megan, Heather Heyman and husband Tanner.

Surviving Great-grandchildren are Zechariah Brinkmeyer, Kaci Brinkmeyer, Chelsie Duesterhoft, Jase Glass, Charles Sleeth Jr., Brewster Sleeth, Kaylee Sleeth, Lain Sleeth, Trista Duesterhoft, Kaylynn Duesterhoft, Travis Duesterhoft Jr., Steven Duesterhoft, Garret Duesterhoft, Thomas Duesterhoft, Riley Duesterhoft, Kendall Duesterhoft, Dusty Dean Duesterhoft, Noelia Garcia, Andres Garcia, Carmelo Garcia, Mateo Garcia, Cinco Garcia, Jonah Bartek, Ava Bartek, Sophia Maldonado, Noah Maldonado, Candon Sanchez, Shelbie Dean Sanchez, Zachary Anderson, Faith Garcia, Lucas Heyman, Rhett Garcia, and Asher Garcia.

Surviving great-great grandchild is Sofia Sandoval-Lucke

Pallbearers include Lewis Duesterhoft, Stephen Maldonado Jr., CJ Bartek, Douglas Duesterhoft Jr., Travis Duesterhoft, Stuart Bartek, Sebastian Dean Maldonado, Pete Garcia, and Curtis Anderson.

Honorary pallbearers are Charles Sleeth, Tanner Heyman, Leandro Sosa, and Robert Sanchez.

Ora Dean is preceded in death by her parents, husband Otto Duesterhoft Jr., infant son Stewart Ben Duesterhoft, her sister Janell “Tiny” Marek and brother-in-law Denny Marek, and a great-grandson Brandon Lane Duesterhoft.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Strickland Funeral Home in Caldwell, Texas.